Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Enzo and I went surfing at Cowells today. He had a lot of fun and we got some good waves. We found a hood for him in the freebin but he didn't want to wear it. We still need to get some booties so his feet won't be so cold. I also need to teach him how to swim. After Damaris came out and I pushed her into some waves. It was her first time getting into the water here in Santa Cruz but hopefully not the last. Some friends from the ward were also in the water and it was a fun day.

Monday, December 28, 2009

Today was Andy's last day of work. His engineering colleagues came out of the woodwork to have some fun with an impressive power point questionnaire (at one point Andy was convulsing with laughter), his friend Rick wrote a biography and a few stood up and talked about life with Andy as their mentor. Andy closed with a modest speech, saying that his own father was his mentor and taught a very average boy (average height and weight as a kid, also a middle child) that he could do well. His dad always saw and supported the best in him. Andy had followed that example in teaching those he supervised. He expressed great love for and confidence in everyone in the room and the fulfillment of being a public servant for residents of the city of Sacramento for more than 32 years.

Andy turned down an offer of a fancy lunch affair, so this "party" was in the board room and they served cake and ice cream and gave him a gift card to his favorite electronics warehouse. After having packed up his entire office which was filled with great memorabilia: photos, cards, art by his children etc... (stuff like that at home went up in smoke with the fire), Andy spent his last hours clearing his digital memorabilia from his work computer. It took hours, and Logan stayed with grandpa to the very end. Andy, it turns out, is a very good man. This is what everyone agreed on.

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Shana was Adam's Santa: Gorgio Armani. Turns out Adam really doesn't mind getting presents (if they're the right kind). Sorry about all these posts. My pictures are crappy, but they're all I've got and I'm trying to figure this out.

This is the guy who claims to be a Christmas grinch. We started the day the usual way and ended with the name game at Springs. In between was a sad farewell to Christian, Da, Enzo, MariaAurea & Cecilia and a swim at Adam's beach. Mikey was a good sport about the fate of his new Christmas watch. He left on top of the car. He and Adam found it crushed on the highway between Adam's house and mine.

This is us thinning out an invasive species on the Hau'ula Loop trail. It's especially justified because Hawaii ran out of trees this year. (And, as Noelle quoted, "That brings the number of disadvantages to living in Hawaii to one." We love you and miss you. Hope you have a very merry Christmas and a happy new year.

Yesterday I met and hung out with Stephenie Meyer while I was working at PCC. She sat in the front row of the show and had to go out because her son Eli was sick. She was super down to earth and sweet.

We asked her to take a picture and I was standing next to her, but then the big guy (Vaughn Lesuma) moved me out the way and stood like a giant next to her. I thought you guys would like to see the evidence. And I KNOW you're diggin' the bright aloha shirts, courtesy of Event Network. I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas! I miss you all